Atch & Co. owner calling it a career, closing up shop
At the age of 91, Frank Atchison says it’s about time to think about retiring.
After running Atch & Co. Men’s Wear for 46 years, Atchison has decided to hang up his suit and close up the shop. But that doesn’t mean he’s about to stop being involved around the city, and he says he plans on doing more with the Shriners in Saskatoon.
“It’s pretty hard to go from working the way I have in the past to go and do absolutely nothing,” Atchison says.
Despite claiming that he’s “not very interesting,” Atchison has a lot of stories to tell from a lifetime of experiences. As an army veteran, a worker on the railroad for a quarter of a century — from the days of the steam engine through to diesel, he noted — and most recently the proprietor of a successful clothing store, Atchison has met a lot of different people over the years.
Walking into Atchison’s quiet store on 21st Street and finding him sitting on a stool and cracking jokes with patrons is not at all surprising. Whether they are customers, old friends, or a combination of both, Atchison loves talking to people who come into the store.
“We visited, talked about what’s going on in the city, what’s going on in the province, how we could straighten it all out — which never happened yet,” Atchison says with a laugh.
He started working in retail at a Regina clothing store when he was 17, before joining the army. While he was a railroad worker, Atchison said he would work part time at a clothing store whenever he was laid off. His first foray into business on his own was a small menswear store in Grosvenor Park Shopping Centre, and over the years he owned and operated other stores, including a limousine business.
He can still remember some of the more memorable visitors to his store, such as hockey player Dickie Moore and former Telemiracle host Bob McGrath. Looking back on 46 years of business, Atchison said he’s noticed differences between when he started the business and today.
“When you’re 91, you see a lot of changes in everything,” Atchison said. “A lot in people — in their attitudes and lifestyles — have changed a lot since I was young.”
Atchison said he’s ready to spend more time with his family, with his children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren who mean so much to him.
“It’s just family time. Sit back and watch your family … watch them grow,” he said.